FACTBOX: What to know about Eastern Economic Forum

Eastern Economic ForumFACTBOX: What to know about Eastern Economic Forum The program of the 11th EEF includes over 70 business events, featuring panel sessions, roundtables, and business dialogues© Alexander Melekhov/TASSTASS FACTBOX. Vladivostok will host the 11th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) from September 1 to 4. Its main theme for 2026 is "The Far East: Development for the Benefit of People." The TASS Factbox editorial team has compiled background information on the forum. Key Information The Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) is one of Russia's largest international conferences. It has been held annually since 2015 on Russky Island (Vladivostok, Primorsky Region) at the Far Eastern Federal University, in accordance with a decree by Russian President Vladimir Putin dated May 19, 2015. The forum was canceled only once, in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event aims to accelerate the economic development of the Russian Far East, provide expert assessments of its potential, and expand international cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, including with ASEAN. It also serves to promote and showcase the investment attractiveness of the region, its Advanced Development Territories (ADTs), and the Free Port of Vladivostok. A large number of agreements are traditionally signed at the EEF. Since 2018, at least 3 trillion rubles ($35 bln) worth of deals have been done each year, with a record set in 2025: 358 agreements worth a combined 6.058 trillion rubles ($71 bln). Organization and Partners Preparations for the EEF are overseen by an organizing committee chaired by Yury Trutnev, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District. The forum's operator in 2015 was the non-profit Eastern Economic Forum Foundation; since 2016, the Roscongress Foundation has served in the role. The EEF's title partners for 2026 are the A7 Russian international payment system and VEB.RF. The forum's general sponsors and partners for 2026 include VTB, Gazprom, RusHydro, and the Elga coal company, with Aeroflot serving as the official carrier. TASS is the general media partner of the EEF. Guests: Top Officials Russian President Vladimir Putin has attended the EEF every year since its inception in 2015. High-ranking foreign officials have participated in the forum since 2016, with a total of 13 heads of state and government from nine foreign countries attending over the years. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did not miss a single EEF between 2016 and 2019. Representatives of the Republic of Korea attended the event twice: Presidents Park Geun-hye and Moon Jae-in in 2016 and 2017, respectively. In 2019 and 2024, the forum received Malaysian Prime Ministers Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim. Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga participated in 2017, 2018, and 2019, while the country's Prime Ministers, Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene and Gombojavyn Zandanshatar, attended in 2022 and 2025, respectively. The forum was also attended once by Chinese President Xi Jinping (2018), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2019), Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (2022), Myanmar Prime Minister Min Aung Hlaing (2022), and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone (2025). EEF 2026 The program of the 11th EEF includes over 70 business events, featuring panel sessions, roundtables, and business dialogues. The program is divided into five main thematic blocks: · Living and Working in the Far East; · Mechanisms for Attracting Private Investment; · The Far East: A Pole of International Interaction (including business dialogues featuring Russia-China, Russia-India, Russia-ASEAN, and others); · Technologies of the Present and Future; · Logistics and Infrastructure for Economic Growth. Business events will also take place as part of the traditional "Far East Street" cultural project. In addition, the EEF will feature the Creative Industries Forum, the "Day of the Future" youth forum, the International Falcon Day Forum (September 1), the Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Forum, the APEC International Conference on Cooperation in Higher Education, and the conference titled "Crossroads of Civilizations: The Role of Transport Integration in the History of the Asia-Pacific Region." According to the Roscongress Foundation press service, representatives from 80 countries have confirmed their participation in the 2026 forum. Sports and Cultural Programs The Eastern Economic Forum is traditionally accompanied by a rich cultural and sports program.The 2026 lineup includes the Roscongress Chess Cup, the EEF Open Water Swimming Cup, international table tennis and mass-wrestling tournaments, and the 5th International Vladivostok Regatta. Football joined the sports program for the first time on August 28, 2026, with a gala match featuring legends of the Spartak Moscow football club. As part of the cultural program, the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre will host a concert by pianist Denis Matsuev, accompanied by the Russian National Youth Symphony Orchestra. The "Far Eastern Seasons" Arts Festival will showcase the culture of the indigenous peoples of the Far East, with its gala concert also taking place on the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre. Meanwhile, the Primorsky State Art Gallery will host the grand opening of the exhibition "Russian Impressionism: The Element of Color." On September 2, a free concert titled "The Soul of Russia: A Language Understood by All" will be held at the Square of the Fighters for Soviet Power in Vladivostok, featuring popular performers from Russia and China. TagsEastern Economic ForumBank of Russia to keep inflation around 4%, assess need to lower target in futureShould such a decision be made, it will be announced a few years before the change, the regulator saidRead moreUkraine’s defeat drawing nearer every day; Kiev understands this — KremlinKremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that the Kiev regime is receiving and will continue to receive"an even more than adequate response" to its attacks on civilian sectors of the Russian economyRead morePress review: EU mulls Russia-linked tanker seizures as US deal opens Venezuela oil accessTop stories from the Russian press on Monday, August 31stRead moreNorthern Fleet task force departs on long Arctic missionThe fleet will practice measures to ensure safety of Russian navigation via the Northern Sea Route, Captain 2nd Rank Alexander Zinovyev saidRead moreTrump's 'Greenland plan' aims to bring Arctic under US control — presidential adviserAnton Kobyakov opined that this project was an alternative to the NSR from the Pacific Ocean to the North AtlanticRead moreSix drones taken down while approaching Moscow — mayorSergey Sobyanin says first responders are working on the crash siteRead morePutin-Trump-Zelensky summit possible only at end of talks — Kremlin spokesmanDmitry Peskov said there have been calls for organizing a Putin-Trump-Zelensky summit for quite some time nowRead moreGeorgia’s Kulevi oil refinery stops processing Russian oilThe refinery has switched to processing oil from Kazakhstan and Libya, the media outlet bm.ge reportedRead morePutin to travel to Bishkek to attend SCO summitThe Russian leader’s schedule includes attending the SCO Council of Heads of States, a meeting in the SCO+ format, and bilateral talks with his counterpartsRead moreEU needs Russia as ‘external enemy’ to collect more taxes — KremlinKremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that voters do not like thisRead moreKiev reluctant to engage in true settlement — Kremlin spokesmanRussian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov commented a proposal to organize a trilateral meeting between Putin, Donald Trump, and Vladimir ZelenskyRead moreUS strikes two missile launchers on Iran’s Larak island — mediaAccording to a US official cited by Axios correspondent Barak Ravid, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces were seen preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of HormuzRead moreCIA chief proposes Putin-Trump-Zelensky meeting during visit to Moscow — AxiosAccording to the news outlet, John Ratcliffe also sought to determine whether talks with Ukraine could be resumed with US mediationRead moreUS to use Venezuelan oil to replenish its strategic reserves — TrumpThe ‘topping out’ process will begin very shortly, and is a gift from Venezuela to the people of the United States, US President wrote on his Truth Social platformRead more241 people saved from sunken vessel off northern Cyprus — authoritiesThe search for 18 more continuesRead moreRussia readies to strike Ukraine’s energy sites to retaliate attacks on its infrastructureAt the same time, Russian servicemen continued to launch coordinated strikes against Ukrainian military-industrial facilities that support the Ukrainian military overnight, the ministry emphasizedRead moreGunmen tried to enter hotel housing AES parliament members — Russian ambassadorViktor Voropayev attended a gala dinner at the hotel on the evening of August 28 for lawmakers taking part in the parliamentary sessionRead moreRussia to respond to hostile actions of its opponents, including asymmetrically — LavrovThe foreign minister said that Russia favors constructive dialogue but, if necessary, will defend "national interests by all available means"Read morePutin to hold meeting on Far East’s development on sidelines of Eastern Economic ForumBefore attending the Eastern Economic Forum, Russian president will pay a visit to Kyrgyzstan, which will host a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summitRead moreErez crossing not to be opened for deliveries to Gaza — Israeli PM’s officeAdviser Dmitri Gendelman emphasized that media reports on the matter are not trueRead morePentagon chief Hegseth considers running for president — NBCBut Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s assistant for public affairs, denied this, the TV channel saidRead moreIran’s IRGC reports destroying US fighter jet deployment sites in Jordan — TasnimEarlier, it was reported that a series of explosions was heard on Jordan’s territoryRead moreMan hijacks plane in Hungary, directs it toward Paks NPP — mediaAfter being intercepted, the plane crashed onto a sunflower fieldRead morePutin to lay out Russia’s position on referendum on EU to Armenian PM — KremlinEach top-level contact is important, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov saidRead moreAt least two killed, 12 injured in Ukraine’s attack on BelgorodA man and a 16-year old teenager were killed in the territory of an enterprise, acting governor of the Belgorod Region Alexander Shuvayev saidRead moreWoman dies in hospital after minibus runs over group of people in southern SiberiaThree children were seriously injuredRead moreIran’s Fars news agency reports about explosions in JordanNo other details are known at this pointRead moreUS is unlikely to achieve quick military victory in Iran — newspaperAccording to The New York Times, airstrikes have not helped Washington accomplish its goalsRead moreRussia’s Alexandrova, Medvedev advance to second round of US OpenThe players defeated McCartney Kessler and Hugo Gaston respectivelyRead morePutin says Russia holds world's second-largest coal reservesThe Russian leader noted that coke, iron ore, and other minerals remain one of the foundations of the national economy todayRead moreNo links between Putin’s meetings with Lukashenko to CIS chief’s visit — KremlinRussian-Belarusian relations constitute an absolutely different dimension, which in no way depends on contacts with the Americans, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov saidRead moreKiev doing everything possible to deteriorate situation at Zaporozhye NPP — RosatomRosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev said that ongoing shelling of the access roads makes delivering fuel for the backup diesel generators extremely dangerousRead moreFinnish citizens outraged by their president’s policy toward Russia — politicianArmando Mema emphasized that the direction in which Stubb is leading Finland "remains uncertain and very dangerous"Read moreRussia begins mass production of Volna Kupol Garant EW system — defense sourceAccording to the source, the Volna has become a factor affecting not only the special military operation zone, but also having global influenceRead moreAnthropologists to carry out genetic test of Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy’s relicsDeputy Director General for Research at the Moscow Kremlin Museums Andrey Batalov said that the age of the person and the grand prince matchedRead moreUS to impose sanctions on Iran every week — Treasury secretaryScott Bessent added that banks cooperating with Iran will be the first targetRead moreIceland’s current government not to initiate EU accession talks — PMKristrun Frostadottir said a referendum on resuming the negotiations cannot be held "every one or two years"Read more30 vessels not let pass through Strait of Hormuz without Iran’s permit in past weekCurrently, navigation through the Strait of Hormuz is only possible upon an agreement with the Iranian side and after paying corresponding feesRead moreNo restrictions on air traffic in Gulf countries imposed — air traffic controllersEarlier in the day, Iran’s missile attack on US ships in the Strait of Hormuz was reportedRead moreTanker struck by projectile off Oman — UKMTONo casualties or environmental impact are reported at this timeRead moreJordan intercepts eight Iranian missiles — Petra news agencyThe type of the missiles is unknownRead moreUncrewed boat found off Turkish Samsun province coast — agencyThe site has been cordoned offRead moreRussia’s Ivan Papanin patrol ship can break through solid ice up to 1.7 m thick — captainKirill Tkachenko emphasized that the ship is capable of handling even thicker iceRead moreNumber of wounded in Belgorod missile attack rises to 16Acting Governor Alexander Shuvayev reported that three more people wounded in the missile attack sought medical aidRead moreKalashnikov to unveil model of its latest AK-12+ assault rifle at Eastern Economic ForumThe weapon will be on display in the Voin Center pavilion at the Far East Street exhibitionRead moreRussia advancing along entire frontline in special op’s zone — Kremlin spokesmanThe dynamic is absolutely positive for Russia, Dmitry Peskov saidRead moreNATO military activities in Arctic may lead to catastrophic consequences — LavrovThe foreign minister said NATO's Operation Arctic Sentry involves intensive military preparations in close proximity to Russia's northern bordersRead more237 people saved from sunken vessel off northern Cyprus — authoritiesAccording to Prime Minister of the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Unal Ustel, all of those rescued are in satisfactory conditionRead moreFate of 99 people on board the vessel remains unknown — Kyrenia mayorMayor Murat Shenkul stated that Turkish Cypriot authorities have so far managed to contact 159 of the 258 people who were on boardRead moreKazakhstan’s parliament votes to appoint Karin as vice presidentErlan Karin’s candidacy, proposed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, was supported by 141 of the 145 deputies presentRead moreRussia has good prospects for cooperating with BRICS partners in Far North — LavrovThe foreign minister added that Russia is also ready to develop cooperation in the Arctic with Belarus and other partners and allies in the CISRead moreUkrainian interceptor drones powerless against new Russian jet-powered UAVs — newspaperWelt TV correspondent Christoph Wanner stated that Ukraine "has not yet kept pace with the development of these technologies for its own interceptor drones," and "the problems are now evident"Read moreKiev’s mobilization plans show Ukraine lies about battlefield losses — mediaThe head of Vladimir Zelensky’s office earlier said that Ukraine needed to recruit at least 30,000 people a month to maintain troop strengthRead moreFACTBOX: Russian strikes on Ukrainian logistics centers, seaports: What is knownTASS has compiled the key facts about the strikes on facilities in Ukraine.Read moreUS seriously considers use of nuclear weapons in Europe — Russian MFAAccording to Andrey Belousov, Washington’s efforts to initiate discussions on Russia’s non-strategic nuclear weapons serve to divert international attention from what he described as the threat posed by US nuclear weapons stationed in EuropeRead moreBlocking extradition of Ukrainian to prove Kiev’s fault in Nord Stream sabotage — lawmakerAccording to Steffen Kotre, the Ukrainian military "does not have carte blanche to sabotage German or European energy infrastructure"Read moreWarehouse fires, damage to energy facility: situation in UkraineAn energy facility was damaged in the Chernigov Region in northern Ukraine, regional administration head Vyacheslav Chaus saidRead moreEnergy cooperation always on agenda of Russian-Chinese contacts — KremlinThis is mutually beneficial cooperation, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov saidRead moreIranian lawmaker warns US of retaliation over Middle East escalationEbrahim Azizi noted that the United States will pay "a heavier price"Read moreMusk not letting Kiev use Starlink against Russia without White House’s consent — FTAccording to the newspaper, the businessman explicitly stated his position in a conversation with former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail FyodorovRead moreRussia still open to talks on Ukraine, but there are no conditions for them — KremlinDmitry Peskov commented on whether President Vladimir Putin could discuss the possibility to continue the work of negotiating groups on Ukraine in Istanbul at a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip ErdoganRead moreAngelina Jolie arrives in Ukraine — news agencyAccording to UNIAN news agency, the actress visited Lvov and TernopolRead moreSix people died in catamaran accident off coast of Northern Cyprus — TVAlso 172 others were rescued, TRT Haber reportedRead morePutin briefed on CIA director visit’s results — Kremlin spokesmanJohn Ratcliffe arrived in Russia on August 25Read moreRussian forces liberate Rubezhnoye, Novoandreyevka, take control of KhrapovshchinaRussian forces also struck Ukrainian fuel and energy facilities and logistics centers used by Ukrainian forces over the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry saidRead moreTokayev appoints Karin as Kazakhstan’s vice president, Bektenov as prime ministerErlan Karin previously served as the first deputy head of the presidential administration, and before the new constitution took effect, he was state counsellorRead moreMOEX Index up as morning trading session opensAs of 7:10 a.m. Moscow time the MOEX Index was up by 0.04% at 2,115.81 pointsRead moreImpact of Russia’s strikes on Ukrainian army’s infrastructure visible — Kremlin spokesmanRussian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov stressed that Russia is targeting only military facilitiesRead moreFACTBOX: 239 drones downed, Ukrainian strikes on homes, logistics center in YekaterinburgAir defenses destroyed 12 Ukrainian drones over the Voronezh Region during the night, Governor Alexander Gusev saidRead moreMaduro posts photo of him in prisonVenezuelan President addressed it to his grandchildren and childrenRead moreSpecial op, security in Europe more important for Russia than ties with overseas countriesRussian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told this Vesti host Pavel Zarubin Read moreUS redirected 83 ships since resuming maritime blockade of IranThe US military also disabled three and boarded two vesselsRead moreOmsky-107 vessel runs ashore near Istanbul after being attacked by Ukraine — agencyAccording to the agency, the crew evacuated from the ship in lifeboats following the attack Read moreKiev loses 9,600 soldiers, mercenaries in special op zone last week — expertAndrey Marochko added that over the past week, the Russian military also destroyed nearly 6,000 unmanned aerial vehicles, three uncrewed boats, three tanks, 47 field artillery gunsRead moreUS convinced that Iceland referendum results to have no effect on NATO membershipDepartment of State spokesman Tommy Pigott said that the US is looking forward "to strengthening our partnership with Iceland on all fronts"Read moreRussia ready to resume Arctic Council’s work, but if partners work in good faith — LavrovThe foreign minister said Russia is also "prepared for the scenario currently being pursued by NATO countries within the organization," implying attempts to discuss issues without its participationRead morePress review: CIA chief's Moscow visit raises questions as Russia warns UK of retaliationTop stories from the Russian press on Friday, August 28thRead moreNumber of AI agents going out of control peaks in July — British newspaperThe study notes that the number of such incidents nearly doubled compared to the previous monthRead moreRussia to repel both external aggressor, sabotage attempts from within — SVRThe press service of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service commented on Ukrainian and Western attempts to influence elections to the Russian State DumaRead moreIceland deals blow to EU’s dreams of expanding northward — news outletBefore the referendum, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos engaged in a flurry of media activityRead moreEU sees no real threat of alleged Russian attack on bloc — PoliticoBack in 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready to "formalize an agreement on mutual non-aggression with Western countries in order to alleviate the concerns that exist in this regard" Read moreIRGC says supertanker hits mines in Strait of Hormuz — agencyThe vessel attempted to use an "illegal route" in the southern part of the Strait of HormuzRead moreOzon sorting center comes under attack in Belgorod, several people injuredEmployees were evacuated Read moreKazakhstan’s parliament votes to reappoint Bektenov as prime ministerOljas Bektenov’s candidacy, proposed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, was supported by 137 of the 145 deputies presentRead moreUS sole factor destabilizing Strait of Hormuz — Iranian Foreign MinistryThe Iranian Foreign Ministry added it will respond to all US actions with "a crushing blow"Read moreKiev increasingly losing on battlefield — US journalistRussian forces continue to liberate territories, Christopher Helali said Read moreKiev finds it increasingly difficult to protect its energy, military facilities — governorKherson Region Governor Vladimir Saldo sees Mikhail Fyodorov’s proposal to the Americans as a piece of creative bargaining to get new weapons deliveries and investmentsRead moreNATO attempts to use Arctic to contain Russia — LavrovThe Russian foreign minister noted that Russia favors constructive dialogue in all regions of the world but, when necessary, will defend its national interests "by all available means"Read moreDenmark suspends issuance of residence permits to Ukrainians of mobilization ageAccording to parliamentary documents, the proposal was approved by 98 votes to 11Read moreKiev troops shell DPR 25 times in past day, civilian woundedSix residential buildings, four civil infrastructure sites, as well as cars and trucks were damagedRead morePutin begins long, busy trip — Kremlin spokesmanThe Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit will be held in Bishkek on August 31 and September 1 Read moreWithout additional $6.75 billion, Ukraine unable to pay its militaryMaintaining combat operations at the current level will require around $20 billionRead moreZaporozhye NPP unable to replenish emergency generator fuel due to Ukrainian attacks"The plant has sufficient fuel for its diesel generators," Yevgenia Yashina addedRead moreTwo, killed, two wounded in US strike on Iran’s Larak island — agencyAccording to the report by Tasnim, no official comments are available at the momentRead moreHundreds of Ukrainian military warehouses located in residential buildings — diplomatRussian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large for the crimes of the Kiev regime Rodion Miroshnik stated that Kiev uses Ukrainians as human shieldsRead moreBelgium blocks new attempt to expropriate Russian assets — minister"This door is closed", stressed Belgian Defense and Foreign Trade Minister Theo FranckenRead moreAll options on table to sanction China for ties with Iran — US Treasury secretaryScott Bessent also said he would hold talks with his Chinese counterparts during the meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank chiefs Read moreMoscow, Bishkek cooperate fruitfully in various areas — Russian president"Relations between our countries are developing dynamically in the spirit of strategic partnership and alliance," Vladimir Putin saidRead moreIran’s supreme leader calls on all Muslim countries to stand up to USMojtaba Khamenei pointed out that the US and Israel are at war not only with Iran and its regional allies, but also with all Muslims, "including the peoples of West Asia and North Africa"Read morePutin may have brief conversation with UN chief on SCO summit’s sidelinesNo separate meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is planned on the sidelines of the AShanghai Cooperation Organization summit, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov saidRead moreDeath toll from northern Nepal flooding exceeds 900Nearly 4,200 people, including 592 foreign nationals, remain missingRead more